Floss pic

ABSTRACT

A holder for supporting dental floss in an operational position so that it can be readily slipped between teeth; the holder consisting of a fork-like implement having two tines on teeth between which the dental floss is held in a taut condition, the implement thus forming a convenient handle so that a person can more easily maneuver the dental floss within different areas of the mouth; one form of the invention also including a fresh dental floss supply within the handle.

United States Patent [191 Conn et a1.

1451 Sept. 30, 1975 FLOSS PIC [76] Inventors: Jay 8. Conn; George Spector, both of 3615 Woolworth Bldg., 233 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10007 [22] Filed: Apr. 15, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 460,774

[52] US. Cl. 132/92 A [51] Int. Cl. A61C 15/00 [58] Field of Search 132/92 R, 92 A, 91, 89

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,257,864 2/1918 Hochstadter 132/92 R 1,480,101 1/1924 Ogden 132/92 R 1,570,357 l/1926 Lawrenz 132/92 R 9/1967 Cowun 132/92 R 4/1974 Bennington 132/92 A Primary Ewminer-G. E. McNeill [57] ABSTRACT A holder for supporting dental floss in an operational position so that it can be readily slipped between teeth; the holder consisting of a fork-like implement having two tines on teeth between which the dental floss is held in a taut condition, the implement thus forming a convenient handle so that a person can more easily maneuver the dental floss within different areas of the mouth; one form of the invention also including a fresh dental floss supply within the handle.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US. Patent Sept. 30,1975

FLOSS PIC This'invention relates generally tooral hygene implements. More specifically it relates to dental floss d'evices.

It is' generally well known that a dental floss -is an excellent material for cleaning out crevises" between teeth, so to remove food"particles which otherwise might stayand'start tooth 'decay; In order 'to' slip the thread-like dental floss between'the teeth, it'must be maintained taut, which of course, is not easy when holding the floss between fingers and trying to reach far into the mouth. This situation is accordingly in want of an improvement.

It is, therefore, a principle object of the present invention to provide an implement for holding the dental floss taut. and the portion of the implement that enters the mouth is smaller than a persons fingers so that it can be more easily reached into all parts of the mouth.

Another object is to provide a dental floss holder which includes a handle so to be easily held externally of the mouth while cleaning between teeth.

Another object is to provide a dental floss holder which is more sanitary to use, and which can be made wither of one-use disposable type or washable, re usable type; the disposable type being ideal for use as a give-away advertising premium.

Other objects are to provide a floss-pic which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a one piece design of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a view in direction 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified design of the invention which includes a refillable floss reel inside the handle.

FIG. 5 is a cross section on line 55 of FIG. 4 and showing the floss reel is spring biased so to firmly hold one end of the floss when in use; and wherein when the button is pushed the reel turns one rotation so to replace the floss portion used.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view on line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view on line 7-7 of FIG.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 3 thereof at this time, the reference numeral 10 represents a floss-pic according to the present invention wherein there is a one piece member 10a supporting a length of dental floss 11.

The member 10a is of generally fork-configuration by having an elongated handle 12 at one end, and the other end is bi-forkated by two sidewardly angularly deverging tines 13 thus forming a space 14 therebetween.

The terminal end edge of each of the tines has a transverse running groove 15 and a longitudinal intermediate portion of each tine additionally has a transverse running groove 16 having an acute hook 17 formed along one side which is closer toward the tine terminal end.

The member 10a is preferably made of molded rigid plastic so to be very inexpensive to mass produce, smooth throughout for comfort in the mouth and easy to keep sanitary. It can be made in any pleasing, attractive color. 1

i The dental floss 11 is such as is commercially now available. The floss 12 is would us at one end around one of the tines and secured in the groove 16 as. shown at 18, the floss then being passed tightly along the outer side edge 19 of the tine, then in the groove- 15, across the space 14, into the groove 15 of the other tine, down -the'outer'side edge 19 andthefloss end is would around the tine and secured in groove 16 similarly as on the other tine.

In use, the biforkated end of the implement is introduced into the mouth and the taut central portion of the floss between the tines is slipped into the crevices between the teeth for cleaning the same.

In FIGS. 4 through 7, a modified design of floss-pic 20 includes the same general features above described except that it includes a chamber 21 inside the handle 22 containing a reel 23 of floss that can be fed outward therefrom through an opening 24 that extends to a tip of one of the tines 25 from where it bridges the space 14, as described, and is secured to the other tine 26. Thus in this form of the invention, when the dental floss portion between the tines is desired to be replaced, it is pulled so to unwind from the reel. The used portion is cut off, and a fresh portion is set up between the tines.

Access to chamber 21 for purpose of refilling the reel with floss or replacing it is made possible by a removable snap cover 27.

In order that the floss portion between the tines be kept taut for use, the reel normally is locked against rotation by means of a projection 28 of the handle filling into an opening 29 on a side of the reel. However, when the reel is intended to let floss unwind therefrom, the reel is sidewardly pushed away from projection 28 by an external push button 30 that moves the reel against a compression spring 31, thus freeing the reel to turn. After releasing the button, the reel is pushed by the spring so to re-engage the projection, thus locking the reel from turning.

The tine 26 that holds the floss end can be con structed wither with the above described grooves 15 and 16, or else it can have a continuous peripheral groove 32 around a pad 33 formed on the tine end, as shown.

It will be appreciated that it is easier to wind the floss around the pad 33 than winding it around the tine.

Accordingly, a manufacturer can incorporate the pad 33 design into the construction of the floss-pic 10, instead of the grooves 15 and 16, if so wishes.

Thus different designs of floss-pic have been presented.

While various changes may be made with detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dental floss pick comprising an elongated tapered holder having a handle end and an opposite forked end inclined to the axis of the holder, said forked end including spaced symmetrical tines for retaining floss therebetween in a taught operative condition, one of said tines including a peripheral slot for securing a portion of said floss and the other tine having means for receiving and engaging another portion of the floss spaced from the first said portion, including nally from said handle and a coacting aligned recess on said reel adapted to receive said lug, wherein said reel further includes an operating push button slidably mounted transversely through an aperture in said handlc further including a spring biasing the reel push button outwardly.

3. A device as in claim 2, said handle including a removable closure cap for the chamber engaging said spring opposite the push button. 

1. A dental floss pick comprising an elongated tapered holder having a handle end and an opposite forked end inclined to the axis of the holder, said forked end including spaced symmetrical tines for retaining floss therebetween in a taught operative condition, one of said tines including a peripheral slot for securing a portion of said floss and the other tine having means for receiving and engaging another portion of the floss spaced from the first said portion, including additional means for securing an end of the floss, whereby said slot is parallel to said floss.
 2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the holder includes an internal bore for receiving and enclosing the second said portion of floss, said bore terminating in a chamber formed in the handle end, in combination with a rotatable floss reel mounted in said chamber, said floss being wound about said reel and secured terminally thereto, including means for selectively preventing reel rotation comprising a lug projecting transversely internally from said handle and a coacting aligned recess on said reel adapted to receive said lug, wherein said reel further includes an operating push button slidably mounted transversely through an aperture in said handle further including a spring biasing the reel push button outwardly.
 3. A device as in claim 2, said handle including a removable closure cap for the chamber engaging said spring opposite the push button. 